Bow stringer



Sept. 19, 1961 L. P. KELLOGG 3,000528 Bow STRINGER Filed April 21, 1958 3 SheetS-Sheet 1 LORE/V'KELLOGG INVENTOR.

TTOR/VEY Sept. 19, 1961 L. P. KELLOGG 3,000'628 Bow STRINGER med April 21, less s sheets-sneet s L oflEN//(ELL 066 IN V EN TOR.

TTORNEY sneaess BOW STRINGER Leren P. Kellegg, Leicester, NY. Filed Apr. 21, 1958, Ser. No. 729,695 12 ciarms. (et. 269-205) The present inventon relates to bows, and more particularly to a device for stringing or bracing a bow, bracing being the archery term for stringing a bow.

The device of the present inventon assists a man or woman in stringing either a recurved or straight bow used by archers, and makes it possible to string the bow with a great deal less elfort, and with greater safety than is normally required for such an operation.

The inventon has as its principal object, the provision of a novel device for stringing or bracing a bow.

Another object of the inventon is the provision of a device of this type Which is simple in structure, easy to make and operate, and highly efective in use.

Still another object of the inventon is the provision of such a device which is adapted for use with bows of different sizes.

And still another object of the inventon is the provision of a bow stringer Which has a high safety factor and which vbvill materially reduce injuries often received in stringing ows.

Yet another object of the inventon is the provision of a bow-stringing device which can be used equally well by either man or woman.

And yet another object of the inventon is the provision of a bow stringer which will prevent twisting of the bow limbs and bow damage resulting therefrom.

Another object of the inventon is the provision of a bow-stringer which may be made portable.

And yet another object of the inventon is the provision of a bow-stringer which can be used in a wide van'ety of locations.

And a further object of the inventon is the provision of a device of the type described which may be used to unstring a bow as well as string one.

To these and other ends the inventon resides in certain improvernents and combinations of parts, all as Will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being. pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

lIn the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of one embodiment of the device of the present inventon, showing the relation thereto of a bow which is to be strung or braced and with the device attached to a suitable support;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the device illustrated in FlG. l, but detached from its support, and showing the relation of the various parts;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the device illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 2, lbut showing a pair of deviccs attached to a fixed support and adjusted to string bows of different sizes, being particularly adaptedv to clubs and groups of users; rand FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bow stringer of the present inventon provided with a folding base to malte the device portable.

The stringer of the present inventon comprises a stick or'staif 10, made of any suitable material, which is about 3' long, approximately 2" broad and 1 thick. The particular dimensions, of course, depend upon the material used. 'The face 11 is formed with spaced holes 12 adapted to receive screws or other fastening means by which the staff may be secured to a fixed support, such as a tree, fence, post, door casing 13 or wall to provide a rigid hacking for the staff 10, the advantages of which are 3,00,528 F'atentedv Sept. 19, 1961 ICE deemed apparent. On the staff 10, approximately 6 from the bottom end 14, a bolt 15 extends through an Opening in the staff and has fixedly mounted thereon a fulcrum or member in the form of a spool 17, as best shown in FIG. 3. This spool 17 is adapted to engage the rear surface 18 of the lower limb of a bow, which is indicated by the numeral 20. The limb 19 extends downward from a central hand portion 21 from which an upper arm or limb 22 projects, as best shown in FIG. l. As the bow, per se, may be of any suitable and well-known structure, and forms no part of the present inventon, further details are not deemed necessary. Suifice it to say, the bow has a central handle portion 21, from the opposite ends of Which the flexible limbs 19 and 22 project, as clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

About 2 feet above the fixed fulcrum or spool 17, a movable spool or fulcrum 23 engages the front surface 24 of the handle 21. The spool 23 preferably rides in a hollowed out hand recess on the front face 24- of the handle 21, as best shown in FIG. 1. The spool 23 is mounted on a bolt 26 which is fastened to the free end of a movable swinging arm 27, the other end of which is loosely mounted on a bolt 28 Which passes through opening 30 in stick 10. By means of this pivoted connection the arm 27 and the spool 23 are free to rock or swing about the pivot bolt 28, as is deemed apparent. Thus, the bow 20 is held firmly by reason of the engagement of the fixed spool 17 against the rear or right face 18 of the limb 19, while the movable spool 23 engages the left or front face 24 of the handle 21. Spools 17 and 23 on the movable arm couldgbe reversed with similir effect. But at least one spool should be movable for maximum equalization of pressures.

Additional holes 30 are provided in the upper end of stick 10 so that the bolt 28, and hence the arm 27 and spool 23, may be moved along stick 10 to vary the distance between the fixed spool 17 and the movable spool 23 to adapt the device to. stringing bows of different lengths. This adjustment can also be secured by providing a slot in staff 10 along which the bolt 28 maybe moved. The movable spool 23 is held in place by the head portion of bolt 28 which fits into a recess in the back of the stick 10 and 'a wing nut 31 which is screwed on the thread end of the bolt 28. By means of spacer bearings, nut 31 may be set up tight without restricting the free movement of arm 27.

The movable spool 23 forms a suitable movable pressure-point which results in the automatic self-adjusting and equalizing of the pressure on the bow. In addition, by reason of the adjustable fulcrum or spool 23, and the fact that the midpoint of thevhandle 21 is pressed against the movable spool 23, which moves in a Vertical plane only, will enable the lower limb 19 and the upper limb 22 to assume the necessary shape for stringing without unnecessary strain on the bow parts. Also, the adjustable feature of the spool 23 will enable the device to be used With bows of different lengths. It will be noted that in the left hand dotted position the movable spool is at the left of the stiok 10 or in the position illustrated in FIG. 1, in which relation the bow may be positioned on the left side of the device. However, the movable spool 23 and Supporting arm 27 may be moved to the full line position illustrated in FIG. 2 and the -bow may then be strung from the right side of the stick 10. In other words, the bow may be positioned on either side of the device, the advantages of which are apparent.

When a bow is to be strung or braced, the rear surface 18 of the lower limbV 19 is placed against the lower or fixed fulcrum or spool 17, and the front surface 24 of the handle 21 is moved into engagement with and behind the upper or movable spool 23. Now, the upper or free end 32 of the upper limb 22 is pulled to the left,

bow string 33 may be attached to the free end 32 of' limb 22. During such hending, the movable or free spool 23 and its arm 27 rock counterclockwiseyas viewed in FIG. 1, to move spool 23 slightly in a-direction toward the fixed spool 17. In other words, when limbs 19 and 22 are bent, the distance between -the fixed lspool 17 and the movable spool 23 decreases, thus equalizing the pressure on both limbs and bends the lirnbs an equal amount. Also, the movable'spool 23 adjusts itself automatically to equalize the pressure on the bowed limbs and permits the two limbs to assume the necessary shaple for bracing without any unnecessary strain. Furthermore, the bow stringer is rigid in all direction except in the plane of the bow. Thus, the bow may be-strung easily and quickly without placing any unnecessarystrain on the .bow parts. In fact, heavy bows can be braced by small people, even women.

FIG. 4 shows a pair of how stringers, of the above type described, which are suitably secured to the opposite sides of. a post 4%, the lower end of which may be anchored in the ground or secured to a stable base plate 41 which may be, in turn, stably anchored to the floor or other fixed support.

FIG. shows a collapsible or 'foldable type of how stringer in which a U-shaped bracket 42 has a web portion thereof secured by means of a bolt or other fastening means 43 to the lower end of Stick lil below the fixed spool 17. The fianged portions 44 of the bracket 42 are fixed securely to the ends of the legs 45 of a U-shaped member or base 46. The member 46 may be positioned to extend normallyfrom stick to provide a base or support therefor to hold the stick vertically as 'shown in FIG 5. A second U-shaped member 4'7 has thefree ends thereof pivotal'ly or rockablyconnected at 49 to the legs 45 of the member 461.. The upper portion-Sil of the member 47 is secured detachably to the stick lil by a bolt or other fastening means `51 -whichpasses through registering holes in the stick lil and the member 47. When the parts are in the position shown in FIG. 5, the member 47' extends in inclined relation to provide a knee brace for the member 46, as shown in FIG. 5. The portion 47 may be detached from stick 10 by removing bolt 51, and this portion and the base-46 may berocked about portions 4-4 of the bracket 42 and pivots 49* so that the parts 46 and 47 may be folded 'against the back of the stick 10 so that the parts are substantially inafplan'e suitable .for storage, handling or shipping, thus 'providing a compact, portable unit. When, in use, the parts are in the position shown in FG. 5, theV devicefmay be held securely in place by running a Wheel 55 of an automobile onto the member 4-5, as shown in FIG. 5. On the other hand, the member 4fi may be placed under a'rock-or other fixed object, as is deemed apparent.

The present invention thus provides a novelbow stringing device which is simple, easy to use,` compact, and highly effective in Operation. During lthe stringing operation both limbs of the bow are bent equally .and With equal pressure, so as to relieve -anyunnecessary strain on the parts.- Thesedesirable results are secured by use-of the floating or movable spool 23, whichis-self-a'djusting. Also, the present stringer has 'a high safety factor, and will pr'actically eliminate injuries often '-'incurred with prior methods of stringing.

While certain embodiments of the nventionhave been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive idea maybe carried out in a number of ways. Therefore, this application is not to be limited to the precise details described7 but is intended to cover all variations and modifications thereof which fall within the scope of the appended claims,

What I claim and YVde'sire'to secureby Letters VPatent of the United States is:

l. In a device for facilitating stringing a bow'having 'a central handle and flexible'limbs extending from opposite ends of said handle, the combination comprising: a support, a member carried by said support and adapted to engage one of said limbs adjacent one end thereof, and means pvotally mounted on said support for relatiyely lfree and unrestrained pivoted movement and spaced from said member for engaging said handle, said member and said means adapted to support said how so that when pressure is manually applied to the free end of the other of said limbs for decreasing the distance between the ends of said limbs, said means is adapted to be pivotally moved by said handle relative to said member Whereby said limbs will bend substantially evenly yand under substantially equal pressure to facilitate attaching-a bow string to the free ends of said limbs.

2. In a device for facilitating stringing a'bow having a lcentral handle and flexible limbsextending from opposite ends of said handle, the combination comprising: a support, a first member carried by said support and adapted to engage one ofsaid limbs adjacentone end thereof, a second member spaced from said first member and adapted to engage said handle, and means for mounting said second member on said support for relatively free movement, said first and second members adapted to support said bow so that when pressure is manually applied to the free end of the other of said limbs for decreasing the distance between the ends of said limbs, said means and said second member are adapted to be moved by said handle relative to said first member causing said limbs to bend evenly and under equal pressure to facilitate attaching a bow string to'the free ends of said limbs.

3. In a device for facilitating stringing a how having a central handle and flexible limbs extending from opposite ends of said handle, the combination comprising: a support, a first member carried by said support and adapted to engage the back surface of one of said limbs adjacent one end thereof, a second member spaced from said first member and adapted to engage the front surface of said handle, and means for mounting said second member on said support for free rocking movement of said second member in a plane parallel to the plane of said support, said first and second members adapted to support said how so that when pressure is manually applied to the free end of the other of said limbs for decreasing the distance between the ends of said limbs, said second member is adapted to be rocked by said handle about its mounting relative to said first member to cause said limbs to bend evenly and under equal pressure to facilitate attaching a how string Vto said free ends.

4. In a device for facilitating stringing a bow having a central handle and flexible limbs extending from opposite ends of said handle, the combination comprising: a support, a first member carried by said support and adapted to engage one of said limbs adjacent one end thereof, a second member pivotally mounted on said support and spaced from said first member and adapted to engage said handle, said members adapted to support said bow so that when pressure' is manually applied to the free end of the other of said limbs for decreasing the distance between the ends of said limbs, said second member is adapted to be pivotally moved' by said handle relative to said first member whereby said limbs Will bend substantially evenly and under substantially equal pressure to facilitate attaching a bow string to the free ends of said limbs, and means for adjustably positioning said second member on said support to vary the distance between said members to adapt the device for use with bows of different lengths.

5. In a device for facilitating stringing a how having a. central handle and flexible limbs extending from opposite ends of said handle, the co-mbination comprising: a support, a first member carried by said support and adapted to engage one of said limbs adjacent one end thereof, a second member spaced from said first member and adapted to engage said handle, means for mounting said second member on said support for free rocking movement in a plane parallel to the plane of said support, said first and second members adapted to support said bow so that when pressure is manually applied to the free end of the other of said limbs for decreasing the distance between the ends of said limbs, said second member is adapted to be rocked by said handle relative to said first member to cause said limbs to bend evenly and under equal pressure to facilitate attaching a bow string to said free ends, and means for adjustably positioning said second member on said support in a plane parallel to the plane of said support to vary the distance between said members to adapt the device for stringing bows of difierent lengths.

6. In a device for facilitating stringing a bow having a central handle and flexible limbs extending from opposite ends of said handle, the combination comprising: a substantially Vertical support having a base extending laterally from the lower end thereof, a first member secured to said support adjacent the base and adapted to engage the back surface of one of said limbs adjacent the free end thereof, a second member pivotally mounted on said support above said first member and in substantial Vertical alignment therewith, said second member adapted to engage the front surface of said handle and cooperating with said first member to support said bow so that When a pressure is manually applied to the free end of the other of said limbs for decreasing the distance between the ends of said limbs, said second member is adapted to be pivotally moved by said handle relative to said first member whereby said limbs will bend equally and under equal pressure to facilitate attaching a bow string to said free ends.

7. In a device for facilitating stringing a bow having a central handle and flexible limbs extending from opposite ends of said handle, the combination comprising: a substantially Vertical support having a base extending laterally from the lower end thereof, means for pivotally connecting said base to said support to permit said base to be folded up against said support, a first member secured to said support adjacent the base and adapted to engage the back surface of one of said limbs adjacent the free end thereof, a second member pivotally mounted on said support above said first member and in substantial Vertical alignment therewith, said second member engaging the front surface of said handle, and means for mounting said second member on said support for movement in a plane parallel to the plane of said support, said first and second members adapted to support said bow so that When a pressure is manually applied to the free end of the other of said limbs for decreasing the distance between the ends of said limbs, said second member is adapted to be pivotally moved by said handle relative to said first member whereby said limbs will bend equally and under equal pressure to facilitate attaching a bow string to vsaid free ends.

8. In a device for facilitating stringing a bow having a central handle and flexible limbs extending from opposite ends of said handle, the combination comprising:

a substantially Vertical support having a base extendng laterally from the lower end thereof, means for pivotally connecting said base to said support to permit the base to be folded up against said support, a first member fixed to said support adjacent the base and adapted to engage the back surface of one of said limbs adjacent the free end thereof, a second member positioned above and in substantial Vertical alignment with said first member to engage the front surface of said handle, means for mounting said second member on said support for relatively free and unrestrained pivotal movement of said second member in a plane parallel to the plane of said support and relative to said first member so that When pressure is manually applied to the free end of the other of said limbs for decreasing the distance between the ends of said limbs, said second member is adapted to be pivotally moved by said handle relative to said first member whereby said limbs will bend evenly and under equal pressure to permit the attachment of a bow string to said free ends.

9. In a device for facilitating stringing a bow having a central handle and flexible limbs extending from opposite ends of said handle, the combination comprising: a support, a first member secured to said support and adapted to engage one of said limbs adjacent one end thereof, an arm pivotally connected to said support for relatively free and unrestrained pivotal movement, and a second member carried by said arm and adapted to engage said handle, said first and second members adapted to support said bow so that When pressure is manually applied to the free end of the other of said lirnbs for decreasing the distance between the ends of said limbs, said second member and arrn are adapted to be pivotally moved by said handle relative to said first member whereby said limbs will bend substantially evenly and under substantially equal pressure to facilitate attaching a bow string to the free ends of said limbs.

1,0. The combination according to claim 9 Where said first and second members are spools.

11. The combination according to claim 10 wherein said first member comprises a shaft fixed to said support adjacent its lower end and laterally extending therefrom, and said first spool is carried by said shaft.

12. The combination according to claim 9 Wherein said support has a base extending laterally from the lower end thereof, and means for pivotally connecting said base to said support to permit said base to be folded up against said support.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 608,706 Osborne Aug. 9, 1898 1,354,448 Walt Sept. 28, 1920 1,766,963 Strupe June 24, 1930 2,653,781 Niemeier Sept. 29, 1953 2,677,518 Happy et al. May 4, 1954 OTHER REFERENCES Archery Magazine, vol. 29, No. 4, April 1957, p. 43. Stalker, Tracy L.: Archery Magazine, vol. 29, No. 6, June 1957, p. 12. 

